Klara Koukalova: "Pills that Serena Williams took have the same effect as heroin '

Situated on the list of athletes who have received therapeutic use exemptions from the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), Serena Williams is attacked by one of her former colleagues from the WTA circuit. Klara Koukalova (Czech Republic, place 290 WTA, meanwhile withdrawn from activity) says about Serena that it has received approval to use drugs that have the same effect as heroin.

"I'm more disappointed in how all the pills you take Serena Williams were tucked just under the carpet, everything is hushed up. It had the agreement of WADA (World Anti- Doping Agency) to take various pills. The effect of some of them is such as heroin, give you a sense of euphoria. We play apparently against a player Serena who was injured and who was in trouble until hackers revealed truth. But, suddenly, everything was hushed up and no one talked about thing with doping.

I had all sorts of allergies and I had to prove it by WADA, I sent my test results. They decided that I could use an inhaler seven or eight times a day. There were strict about this, and at some time find out all substances that you take Serena with no problem ... I am very disappointed "- pointed Klara Koukalova.

According to his medical informatics, Serena has used over time oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone and methylprednisolone in the years 2010, 2014 and 2015. "

" ... The International Tennis Federation confirmed in a statement that the TUEs were authentic documents.

Serena was granted approval for oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone, prednisolone and methylprednisolone in 2010, 2014 and 2015. The first two are medically defined as opioid painkillers, and are banned in the anti-doping rules because they’re labeled as narcotics. The second two are medically defined as corticosteroid anti-inflammatories, a portion of which are generally banned in competition.

Several of the TUEs were given at times when Williams was not competing, including in 2010 when she missed time with a foot injury and pulmonary embolism. However, a TUE for prednisone was granted a year ago, during the second week of the French Open.

Venus approved for the following substances from 2010-2014: prednisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone and the generic form of the asthma inhaler symbicort. The first two are medically defined as corticosteroid anti-inflammatories, a portion of which are banned in competition, and the third is defined an antibiotic.

Venus, who was diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome in 2011, released a statement.

“I was disappointed to learn today that my private, medical data has been compromised by hackers and published without my permission,” she said. “I have followed the rules established under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program in applying for, and being granted, therapeutic use exemptions.

"The applications for TUEs under the Tennis Anti-Doping program require a strict process for approval, which I have adhered to when serious medical conditions have occurred. The exemptions posted in the hacked report are reviewed by an anonymous, independent group of doctors, and approved for legitimate medical reasons.

“I am one of the strongest supporters of maintaining the highest level of integrity in competitive sport, and I have been highly disciplined in following the guidelines set by WADA, USADA the ITF and, collectively, the Tennis Anti-Doping Program."

WADA confirmed and condemned the attack on its records system, saying investigations showed that it originated in Russia. The Russian government has denied involvement. Following revelations of state-sponsored doping in Russia, Russian athletes in several sports—no tennis players—were barred from competing at the Rio Olympics.

The WTA tour and USADA also issued statements against the attack on the WADA database. "

If you absolutely can't play if you don't take TUE drugs, then bad luck, just stay at home until you recover.

OK, both the ATP and WTA tours have mandatory events that if not played a player get 0 points and may still have to attend anyway to do "Media". If the top players miss many of these events, then they can lose their ranking which guarantees entry into the biggest and best tournaments where the most points and money are gained.
I guarantee you that unless you are very ill, injured or pregnant and are suffering from a slight condition, all players - apart from Sharapova and a few other idiots - will get a TUE and play the next tournament.
For me to get to work today I had to take MEDICATION that is on the banned substances list, I'd rather take it and go to work, get paid. I've also been on long term leave due to illness, you get bored and then find that if a MEDICATION can get you able to go to work then you will take it.
People must learn that there is a BIG difference to taking a MEDICATION TO MAKE YOU HEALTHY (The Williamses, anybody else named by the Fancy Bears and most sportspeople) and DELIBERATE USE OF A SUBSTANCE TO GIVE YOU AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER A FELLOW PROFESSIONAL SPORTSPERSON (Sharapova, Odesnik, etc).

Thanks for posting this. The last 2 paragraphs should be a guiding light for the way forwards:

"A T.U.E. should allow access to a performance-enhancing drug only if that drug is required for proven medical reasons. Then a T.U.E. should permit its use — but only out of competition. If any traces of the drug are found by in-competition testing, then that should result in a ban. For an athlete’s own well-being, it is better to face the fact of sickness or injury and withdraw from competition. And for the sport’s well-being, it is better to avoid a system open to abuse and exploitation.

In 1996, I believed myself incapable of cheating. My story illustrates only too well that none of us can be trusted always to do what is right. When the stakes are high, some will see it as sheer folly not to use every advantage available: Never mind if it’s unethical, as long as it’s not illegal. Just like our wider society, the sporting world needs effective laws and enforcement."

Respectfully,
masterclass

I totally agree.
TUE drugs must be banned in competition.

If you absolutely can't play if you don't take TUE drugs, then bad luck, just stay at home until you recover.

It explains why there are so many corticosteroids in that TUE list that were leaked by Fancy Bears.

Thanks for posting this. The last 2 paragraphs should be a guiding light for the way forwards:

"A T.U.E. should allow access to a performance-enhancing drug only if that drug is required for proven medical reasons. Then a T.U.E. should permit its use — but only out of competition. If any traces of the drug are found by in-competition testing, then that should result in a ban. For an athlete’s own well-being, it is better to face the fact of sickness or injury and withdraw from competition. And for the sport’s well-being, it is better to avoid a system open to abuse and exploitation.

In 1996, I believed myself incapable of cheating. My story illustrates only too well that none of us can be trusted always to do what is right. When the stakes are high, some will see it as sheer folly not to use every advantage available: Never mind if it’s unethical, as long as it’s not illegal. Just like our wider society, the sporting world needs effective laws and enforcement."

It is possible that all the T.U.E.s revealed in the WADA leak were for legitimate medical reasons, but the system is open to abuse. Some of the medical conditions used to justify a T.U.E. can be difficult to validate; and as I discovered, an unscrupulous rider and doctor could exaggerate or simply make up symptoms that would merit a prescription and exemption.
....
....

By the 2001 season, I was taking the banned blood-boosting agent erythropoietin, or EPO, and testosterone in secret training camps before my target races; then, on three occasions, I took cortisone. The EPO and testosterone were anabolic — that is, they built me up; nothing that could be seen physically, although a blood test would reveal the changing numbers in my blood values that would lead to an increase in aerobic performance and improve my ability to recover from hard training efforts. I would make sure the performance-enhancing drugs were used only in training phases where I could be sure I wouldn’t be tested (this was before the athlete whereabouts system existed, so there was no out-of-competition testing). By the time I got to the races, my body was clean, although it carried the benefits of the drugs.

Once I hit my target levels and felt ready for the big push, a doctor would administer the cortisone via an intramuscular injection. In one sense, it would be like hitting a self-destruct button: The moment the drug entered my body, I would become catabolic. The cortisone would start to strip me down, and I began to use my own body as fuel.

....

One drug in particular that is available with a T.U.E. has come to light in the Fancy Bears leak: triamcinolone acetonide, more commonly known by its brand names, Kenalog and Kenacort. This is a very powerful synthetic corticosteroid. I know this because I’ve used it, three times: the first for a medical reason, a terrible skin allergy that afflicted me during the final week of the 2001 Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain); the other times, for performance enhancement.

It's disheartening that not many directly involved in tennis are calling her out on this more. But perhaps it's progress that journalists from national dailies are beginning to criticize more tennis's perception of its own image?

MTFers thoughts on this...?

Okay ITF is farce . Maria Sharapova was victim. Her drug is like an aspirin and
millions of people take it every single day and you do not need a prescription for it. It is much more worse what Serena,Venus and other players were allowed to take for years. But money talks . Plus it is not about Sharapova but financial interest b/w pharmaceutical companies. Sharapova is the only athlete who is banned for this drug. ITF or WADA are not enough brave to say sorry or we were wrong. So they rely on media to brainwash fans or public.

It's disheartening that not many directly involved in tennis are calling her out on this more. But perhaps it's progress that journalists from national dailies are beginning to criticize more tennis's perception of its own image?

Yes, but possibly dope-testing "years" are calculated differently? Maybe they base it on various sports worldwide, including a lot which run from late summer to early summer, or something. I don't know, but you're right that it's as clear as mud.

That chart I posted before was just a summary of two years - the ITF (probably accidentally) released both years with full details. After that, less detail. Then they reduced detail further a few years later.

I've got the exact test dates at home somewhere, will dig them out when I'm back.

In my experience tennis season doesn't start mid-year, but clearly coincides with the calendar year.

Yes, but possibly dope-testing "years" are calculated differently? Maybe they base it on various sports worldwide, including a lot which run from late summer to early summer, or something. I don't know, but you're right that it's as clear as mud.

In my experience tennis season doesn't start mid-year, but clearly coincides with the calendar year. So whatever the date format used, it's unlikely that it refers to a period mid-season to mid-season. But whatever... It only shows how and why much more transparency is needed.

What's worrying is that ITF and ATP became less and less transparent since 2010 in publishing more details about doping test.

As ESPN has written, tennis has clean image, but it's more likely by design.

In my experience, the date format xxxx/xx conventionally covers a period of 12-ish months, starting one year and finishing the next. Otherwise it would probably have been written xxxx-xx. Perhaps someone could confirm?

In my experience tennis season doesn't start mid-year, but clearly coincides with the calendar year. So whatever the date format used, it's unlikely that it refers to a period mid-season to mid-season. But whatever... It only shows how and why much more transparency is needed.

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